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Urban Forests on Loose Leaf

American Forests has recently released a request for proposals to select at least three new cities or metropolitan areas to participate in its award-winning Community ReLeaf program.

Community ReLeaf launched in 2013 to provide a suite of technical and financial resources, all told averaging $100,000 in the initial phase. With primary support from the U.S. Forest Service and Bank of America Charitable Foundation, our overarching goal is to make strategic inputs that help improve both the near-term green infrastructure locally while also helping to expand capacity for managing the urban forest over the long-term.

Fire surprise: Insect-killed forests no more likely to burn – KTVZ
Another in a string of studies provides evidence that prior insect activity doesn’t affect wildfires, as was widely believed. The analysis covers 30 years of wildfire in Oregon and Washington State.
Regional haze and questionable efforts to save the forests – The Jakarta Post
As Indonesia’s dry season continues, many are worried that it will continue past August, thanks to an impending El Niño weather pattern. Forest fires are ... (Read More)

We are proud to announce that American Forests’ Community ReLeaf program has earned a 2015 ASAE Power of A Gold award. The gold award, ASAE’s highest honor, showcases organizations that have made local, national, and/or global contributions toward enriching lives, driving innovation, and making the world a better place.

According to Ian Leahy, Director of Urban Forest Programs, receiving the award is not only an honor, but it also serves as encouragement for the program moving forward.

“A few years ago, we reimagined our urban forest programs so that we could immerse ourselves in communities,” says Leahy. “T... (Read More)

See Australia’s plans for Urban Forests and stay informed on California’s wildfires in this week’s Forest Digest!

Urban forest creation guide unveiled in Melbourne in bid to increase Australia’s green spaces – CBS Australia
Melbourne’s city council released a guide to urban forestry in Australia as part of a Victorian government-backed campaign to increase green spaces in cities by 20 percent by 2020.
Lax rules put Congo’s forests, key carbon reserve, at risk – EurekAlert
A new study from the University of Vermont projects a loss of up t... (Read More)

Criminological theories help us to understand why urban forests may be able to reduce crime rates.

By attracting people to public outdoor areas, urban green spaces create more opportunities for community members to interact with one another, which leads to the development of neighborly bonds and social capital. This creates the appearance that the spaces are defended by residents and, in turn, has the effect of deterring criminals from targeting the area. Urban forests can also reduce crime by restoring mental health a... (Read More)